FINA or Fdration Internationale de Natation[1] (trans: International Swimming Federation) is the

International Federation (IF) recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC)[2] for
administering international competition in Aquatics. It is one of several IFs which administer a given
sport/discipline for the IOC and/or international community. It is based in Lausanne, Switzerland.
FINA currently oversees competition in five aquatics sports: swimming, diving, synchronized
swimming, water polo and open water swimming.[3] Beginning in 2013, high diving is an emerging
discipline within FINA. FINA also oversees "Masters" competition (for adults) in its disciplines.[3]
On July 24, 2009, Julio Maglione of Uruguay was elected FINA President.

Organization[edit]
The FINA membership meets every four years, usually coinciding with the World Championships.
There are two types of normal or "ordinary" congress: General and Technical. FINAs highest
authority is the General Congress. Any technical issues concerning FINAs five aquatic disciplines
are decided by the Technical Congress. Each Congress has two voting members from each Member
federation, plus the following non-voting members: the 22 members of the Bureau, the Honorary Life
President, and all Honorary Members. The Technical Congress has the following additional nonvoting members: all members from the respective Technical Committees.[7] "Extraordinary" Congress
are also called from time to time, to deal with a specific topic or area of concern (e.g., an
Extraordinary Congress was held with the 2009 World Championships to review the Masters
swimming rules; there was a General Congress at the 2009 Worlds[8]). All Congress meetings are
chaired by FINA's president.[7]
Between Congress meetings of the entire membership, a smaller 22-member representative board,
called the FINA Bureau, meets to act in a timely manner on items which cannot wait until the entire
body can meet. It is the Bureau that elects the FINA Executive Officers.[9]
Various committees and commission also help with the oversight of individual disciplines (e.g. the
Technical Open Water Swimming Committee helps with open water), or topic-related issues (e.g. the
FINA Doping Panel)